SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Wilcox hosted Los Gatos for its Homecoming game and a heated league match-up. Wilcox shut out the previously undefeated Wildcats 37-0, who had been previously averaging 44 points a game. With Wilcox defeating both Palo Alto and Los Gatos already, the two teams figured to be the Chargers' main SCVAL-De Anza competitors, another league title appears within their grasp.
Shutting down the Los Gatos (5-1, 1-1 SCVAL-De Anza) offense is no easy task, but three different interceptions in the red zone helped Wilcox keep the Wildcats scoreless throughout the night. The Chargers even returned a blocked punt for a touchdown. Los Gatos quarterback Yost Girvan had not thrown an interception in the five prior games to start the season.
The Wilcox (4-2, 2-0 SCVAL-De Anza) offense went to work as well. Quarterback Geremy McCollough executed the Chargers' run heavy offense, scoring two times on the ground himself. Paul M. Rosa, coming off of a groin injury, ran wild against the Wildcats with 227 yards and two touchdowns.
“We just played Wilcox football,” reflected McCollough. “We did our jobs, we stuck to our roots, we ran the ball well, and we dominated.”
McCollough put up the first touchdown early in the second on a 12-yard keeper. On the following drive for Los Gatos, Tyler Rowland blocked a punt from Los Gatos punter Ty Goldsbury, which got scooped up by Okela Turituri who ran 35-yards for another Wilcox touchdown. Los Gatos returned the favor with a blocked PAT, but that still gave the Chargers a 13-0 lead.
The Wildcats drove the ball deep into Wilcox territory on the next drive. Unfortunately for Los Gatos, the Wilcox defense pulled it together and forced Los Gatos to go for it on fourth down, which led to an interception from Turituri. McCollough and the offense quickly moved the ball downfield, setting up Isaiah Flores with a 29-yard field goal as the clock expired, extending their lead to 16-0 going into halftime.
McCollough scored his second touchdown of the night late in the third on an 11-yard keeper. On the next drive, Los Gatos went three-and-out and decided to try a fake punt. Unfortunately for Los Gatos, the attempt was no good, which set the Chargers up with some solid field position. Wilcox ran their way to the Los Gatos one-yard line, where Rosa punched in and recorded his first touchdown of the night early in the fourth.
Wilcox got the ball back later in the fourth. Rosa scored this time on a huge 61-yard rush, sealing the Homecoming victory for the Chargers and making them 2-0 in league. Los Gatos went home scoreless, which seemed impossible considering their offensive success so far this season.
“They were more physical,” said Los Gatos head coach Mark Krail. “We have a good football team, but tonight, we were exposed. Turnovers hurt us tonight.”
Wilcox will travel north for another league match-up against upstart Mountain View (5-0) next Friday, after the Spartans came from behind to beat Milpitas on Friday. Los Gatos hosts Santa Clara (4-2) in hopes of turning things around after their tough loss.
